What is the Sarajevo Memorial Centre for: Today not a word about the siege and aggression against BiH, yet they manage the Tunnel of Hope!

(Patria) - The Sarajevo Memorial Centre, headed for a second term by Ahmed Kulanić (NIP), has not organised a single event to mark the beginning of the siege of Sarajevo, which lasted 1,425 days and began on 5 April 1992.

Although its website has a special section dedicated to the siege of Sarajevo, the silence of this public institution is concerning, especially given its mission to, among other things, nurture and promote the preservation of the memory of BiH's finest sons, organise events that recall their image and great deeds, and build awareness of universal values: freedom, justice, and anti-fascism.

By a decision of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly in 2018, the Fund changed its status and name, becoming the Public Institution Fund of the Memorial of Sarajevo Canton. This phase marked the official transition to a broader cultural and educational mission, and in 2023, this mission gained full momentum with an additional expansion of activities, focusing on scientific research, museum work, archiving, library services, and the development of educational programmes.

In 2023, by a decision of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, the Fund became the Sarajevo Memorial Centre and positioned itself as the central institution for studying and preserving the history of the war in BiH, with a special emphasis on confronting the denial of historical facts.

However, this year, the Sarajevo Memorial Centre is completely silent when it comes to the siege of Sarajevo.

Given that today also marks the occupation of Sarajevo International Airport, and that the Sarajevo Memorial Centre manages the Tunnel of Hope, which was dug under the Sarajevo runway and was crucial for transporting food, medicine, and other supplies during the aggression, it is surprising that this institution has not at least reminded the public of the tunnel's significance during the siege, if it was unable to prepare and mark one of the most important dates in Sarajevo's history.

However praiseworthy the organisation of the "Trail of Memory" on 5 April 2024 was, when employees of the Sarajevo Memorial Centre and volunteers placed 11,541 pairs of shoes for every killed citizen of Sarajevo, fallen members of the Army and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of BiH, from Sarajevo Children's Square to Baščaršija, it is unacceptable that this institution has not even issued a statement on today's date.

The last official information that reached the media from this institution was on 4 March, when the constitutive session of the Organisational Committee of the event – "Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Igman 2026 – From Independence Day to Statehood Day" was held.

If institutions that are supposed to nurture and preserve the memory of the aggression against BiH behave like this, what can be expected from other institutions.